Written by Dr Richard Connolly. Vladimir Putin has delivered his annual press conference and at the top of the agenda was the Russian economy, reflecting that the turmoil buffeting the Russian rouble has reached critical levels.

Written by Dr Richard Connolly. Russia's Central Bank has raised its key interest rate from 10.5% to 17% in an emergency move that is designed to halt the ongoing collapse of the rouble, which has accelerated in recent weeks. The dramatic intervention comes after the rouble suffered its worst one-day fall since the August 1998 financial crisis.

Written by Dr Richard Connolly. Since the summer, the global price of oil has plummeted. After hovering above the US$100 per barrel level since 2010, prices have declined by around 40% in the space of just a few months. Brent crude has fallen below the $70 a barrel mark, with OPEC's recent decision to leave production levels unchanged raising the possibility that oil prices may have further to fall.

Dr Denis Dvornikov spoke on the current political situation in the South Caucasus region, focussing on the new challenges linked with geopolitical integration projects such as the Eurasian Economic Union and the Iran factor as well as the situation with the region's non-recognised states (Abkhazia, South Ossetia, and Nagorno-Karabakh). He will also address recent events in Russia – Georgia dialogue and perspectives for economic development.

A roundtable on the Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict, a presentation on the challenges and choices of the South Caucasus and participation at conferences in Baku highlight research strengths and interest in the Caucasus.

Written by Professor Stefan Wolff. Moldova has gone to the polls in a vote seen as crucial for determining the country's future direction. Preliminary results indicate that the pro-European parties together achieved about 44% of the vote, while those parties considered to be more pro-Russia came in with just under 40% of the vote, on a turnout of around 56%. These headline figures, however, mask a more complicated picture.

This round-table discussed the Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict which is one of the most complex and protracted ethno-territorial conflicts in the post-Soviet space. It focused on the role of historical narrative in the political discourse of all parties involved in the conflict. The round-table gathered together scholars and policy-makers with a lengthy empirical and political experience of this turbulent region.